Omaruru municipality helps residents

In anticipation of a very chilly winter, Omaruru Mayor ­Hendrina Gebhardt donated cement and some foodstuffs to families whose houses were seriously damaged by February's hail storm at Ozondje.

Each affected house was given two bags of cement, 10 kg maize meal and 500 ml cooking oil.

Gebhardt said the Omaruru Town Council was concerned with the erratic changes in weather that caused devastating damages and losses this year.

Wind blew off the roofs of over 20 houses.

“Turenda River has seen above normal flow of water, something that was not seen in at least 30 years,” said Gebhardt.

The 20 houses whose roofs were blown off, suffered serious infrastructural damages as well.

Build Together houses are covered by insurance but the older houses are not.

“We had to come in to assist because some of the houses in Ozondje belong to our senior citizens and they will do a lot with cement to close ­openings between the roof and walls,” ­Gebhardt said.

She attributed the unpredictable weather to climate change, saying it is everywhere and people should prepare for anything, especially with these winter rains.

Angela Kazombaruru, Ignasius Kameitjo and Angelica Kahirimana are some of the beneficiaries.

Kazombaruru said she had done most repairs after her roof was blown off but there are still many openings between the roof and walls which need to be closed as scorpions could invade her home.

Kameitjo was thankful for the kind gesture shown by the mayor.

When the mayor arrived at ­Kahirimana's house, the family was busy collecting sand from the nearby river for the “finishing touches”.

“The assistance is God sent as we are ready to fill up cracks caused by the wind in our walls,” Karihimana said.